Refrigerator



D. M. GRANT April 28, 1942.

REFRIGERATOR Filed April 18, 1941 Patented Apr. 28, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE nEFmGEnA'ron David M. Grant, st. Louis, Mo.

Application Anm is, 1941, semi No. asazss (cl. ez-ss) 2 Claims.

This invention relates to refrigerators and more especially to refrigerators for domestic use.

The invention aims to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a refrigerator including a freezing chamber and means whereby access may be had to such chamber without admitting warm air into that portion of the refrigerator employed for the storage of edibles or other articles.

The invention further aims to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a refrigerator including a hinged door, a freezing chamber having an entrance and with the entrance end of said chamber and the inner face of the door having coacting means for sealing said chamber, when the refrigerator is closed to the interior of the housing.

The invention further aims to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a. refrigerator including a main hinged door formed with a door opening, an auxiliary door normally closing said opening hinged to said main door and providing when opened access to the freezing chamber of the refrigerator, and means bordering the inner end of said opening and coacting with means bordering the entrance of the freezing chamber for sealing the latter when the main door is closed, and for sealing the freezing chamber to the interior of the refrigerator when the auxiliary door is opened. i

The invention further aims to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a refrigerator including a freezing chamber or compartment and means for sealing said chamber to the interior of the refrigerator when the latter is closed forthe purpose of increasing the rate of freezing .of substances confined in such chamber.

The invention further aims to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a refrigerator for the purpose referred to which is comparatively simple in its construction and arrangement, strong, durable, compact, readily assembled, thoroughly' efficient in its use and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Embodying the aims aforesaid and others which may hereinafter appear, the invention consistsof the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be more specifically referred 'to .and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, Variations and modifications may be resorted to which fallI within the scope of the invention as clairned.

v In the drawing:

Figure l is a fragmentary view in front elevaton of a refrigerator in accordnce with this invention,

Figure 2 is a fragmentary viewin vertical section of the refrigerator, and

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view in elevation looking toward the inner face of the outer sealing element arranged on the inner face of the main door of the refrigerator.

With reference to the drawing, I indicates the open front housing or cabinet of. a refrigerator of that type having arranged therein means, as at 2, to form within and at the upper portion of the housing I a' freezing chamber 3 having an entrance opening 4 for the purpose of access to such chamber. The latter has arranged therein superposed trays 5. The open front of the housing I is closed by a hinged door 6 which when closed is spaced from the means 2. The foregoing elements are of known construction.

The door 6 is termed a main door and it is formed between its horizontal center and its upper end with a door opening 1 for the re- -ception of an auxiliary door 8. The opening 'I aligns with the entrance opening 4 of the chamber 3. The door 8 is hinged to the door 6 and provided with a handle 9.

Secured to the inner face of the door 6 and bordering throughout the inner end of the opening 'I is an outer sealing element Ill. Secured to the means 2 and bordering throughout the entrance opening 4 of the chamber 3 is an inner sealing element II. Each of the said sealing elements is of like form and consists of a compressible and extendible hollow frame-like body I2 conforming in contour to that of the opening 4 or the opening 'I. its sides, top and bottom has extended laterally therefrom a flange I3. The fianges I3 of element I0 are secured against the inner face of the door 6 by the holdfast means Il. Theiflanges I3 of the element II are secured to the front of the means 2 by the holdfast means IS.

The arrangement of -elements III, II- is such that when the door 6 is closed, such elements will be in abutting relation whereby the freezing f chamber 3 will be sealed to the interior of the housing. The chamber 3- will also be sealed to the interior of the housing when door 6 is closed and door 8 opened for access to chamber'3. The construction and arrangement of the sealing elements is such thatv when the entrance of the The frame-like body I2 atv aaamso having an entrance at its front. a hinged main door for closing the open front of the housing and formed with a door opening aligned with 'said entrance", an auxiliary door hinged to the of said outer door and border-ing throughout the inner end of said door opening. an inner sealing element secured to said means and horderingy throughout said entrance. said elements coacting to seal said chamber' to the interior ofthe housing when the main door is closed and said inner door when opened, permitting access to said chamber while the latter is sealed to the interior of the housing. 4

2. In 'a refrigerator, an open front housing, means therein to provide a freezing chamber main door for normally closing said door opening. an outer frame-like compressible and distensibie sealing element bordering throughout the inner end of said door opening and formed with flanges seated against the inner face of the main door. means for securing said flang'es to said main door, an inner frame-like compressible and distensible sealing element bordering throughout the entrance ofl said chamber and formed with flanges seated against the front of said means, and holdfast means for securing the flanges of said inner element to vthe front of said means, said elements coacting to seai said chamber to the interior of said housing when the main door is closed and said auxiliary door when opened, permitting access to said chamber when thelatter is sealed to the interior of the housing.

DAVID M. GRANT.- 

